Thanks to social media, we have access to celebrities all the time, and whether it’s mere glimpses into their lives or actual personal engagement, it’s significantly different than how it used to be. Back in the day, if we wanted to communicate with a famous person, we’d have to write a fan letter. That was the easy part. Then we’d have to find an address to mail it to (usually C/O some studio), pop it into a stamped envelope and wait weeks/months/years for any sort of reply — even if you did include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your note.

Forty-seven years ago, that’s exactly what Richard E. Grant did. The Oscar nominee took to Twitter to share a letter he wrote to Barbra Streisand back in 1971. In it he spoke of the magical place he called home (Swaziland) and told her if she ever needed a break from it all, she was welcome to visit. Along with the adorable letter was a current photo of himself outside Streisand’s home. Now, while this may sound a bit stalkery, once you read the letter in its entirety and see the look on Richard’s face, you’ll love everything about it.

As a lifelong fan of someone you’ll understand what it meant for me to take this snap outside the home of @BarbraStreisand Asked Security for permission & he replied ‘It’s a public road, but thanks for asking’ Wrote her this letter when I was 14. My wife is very understanding! pic.twitter.com/3SohXKpgZT

OK, let’s just get the obvious out of the way. That letter was practically poetic. It could not have been more well-written, thought-out and super-sweet. Well done, 14-year-old Richard! And Babs must have thought so too because she responded.

Dear Richard What a wonderful letter you wrote me when u were 14 ! and look at u now! You’re terrific in your latest movie with Melissa congratulations and love Barbra

Streisand not only praised Grant’s Oscar-nominated performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, in which he stars alongside Melissa McCarthy, but also applauded his note from all those years ago. The way Babs worded her tweet was thoughtful as well, acknowledging a 14-year-old Richard and his amazing letter, as well as 61-year-old Richard and how far he’s come.

This is what many of us would have felt if our favourite celebrity said actual words to us: